Improved machine for washing and cleansing clothes



UNITED STATES PATENT -WILLlAll PRICE, QFUINCTNNATI, OHIO.

lMPROVED MACHINE FOR WASHlNG AND CLEANSlNG CLOTHES,` tc- Specilieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,70B, dated March '7, 1865.

To all whom, if; may concern,.-

ing Clothes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, making a part of this specication, in which-- Figure 1 represents a top view ofthe working parts ot' the 'apparatus placed in the tub. Fig. 2 shows a vertical section through the same.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of two bars crossing each other at right angles to a vertical shaft which has its bearing in a piece ot plank, so that it can move up or down in its center, the bars having pins put through them horizontally to form a division for the larger andl smaller pieces or articles Iput into the tub to be cleansed or rinsed as they are agitated in the suds or water by the vertical pins.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe it and its operation andQeiects more fully, referring to the drawings, 'and tothe letters marked thereon.

To any common wash tub having handles a a extending up above the level of the top of the tub Itit in between and against the han- 4 dles anarrow piece of plank, A,to which Ihin ge two win gs, b b, of semicircular form, which form the lid 'or cover, to close up the tub when theoperation of cleansing and rinsing clothes is being performed. Through the center of the plank-Aand a cleat, c, l make a round hole, into which I fit a vertical shaft, B, on the low er end of whichis fitted two bars or arms, c c, they being halved together, crossing each other at right angles and extending out far enough to nearly fill the diameter of the inside of the wash-tub. Through the arms c c are placed horizontally two or more pins, d d d d, so that they serve the purpose of a rack or support to keep up off the bottom of the tub Vall the large piecesl` such as sheets, pillowsuch garments as areA cases, table-cloths, ano. not soiled in one place more than another.

y l Through the bars or arms o c are also fitted Be it known that I, WILLIAM PRICE; of i the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamili ton,in the State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Apparatus for Cleansing and Rius three or more vertical pins, e e e, which extend down about one-half their length below the bottom of the arms c c, and about one-fourth of their length above the top of the arms, the ends of all of the pins bein g turned off round and smooth, so as not to chafe` the fabrics. 0n the top of the vertical shaft/B is framed a single-handed horizontal lever, D, by which the apparatus is operated in thcfollowin g manner y The smaller piecessuch as socks, hose, collars, shirts, and drawers, and all articles that get much soiled, or very dirty in streaks-are put into a common wash-tub, with hot water and soap, in the usual manner.

The above-described apparatus, being tted to suit the size of the tub, is placed in the tub, the pins e e e resting on the clothes and forcing them down on to the bottom of the tub. This being done, the tub may be lled. up with larger articles-such as bed and table linenthey resting on the arms c c and the horizontal pins d d, so that they do not become entangled. with the smaller and more soiled pieces underneath the lids being closed down to keep in the vapor,- and the suds. from overllowing. The mass is thenl put in motion by taking hold of the hand-lever I) and vibrating it back and forward. Theclothes, being carried mostly with it, agitate th suds to a considerabledegree, and rub them in the tub, the smaller and most soiled articles being underneath the arms and pins, where they get the largest amount of chating. The position of the pins upon the clothes maybe changed once or twice during the process of cleansing by just lifting the apparatus up a little in the tub and turning it one-eighth of the circle, letting down again. As the process of .washing and rinsing clothes does not require a rapid motion or violent agitation, the operation is not laborious, the lever being moved an arms length is quite sucient, and can be worked right or left in changing hands as often as one pleases. The smaller articles and most soiled pieces being separated from the larger, all of the clothing that can be conveniently put into the tub at one time are most thoroughly washed out, and may be wrung out in time not'J exceeding fifteen min@ The combinationV of the arms c c with the utes. The suds being then removed from the v horizontal pins dv d, the vertical pins e e e, and tub, the clothes put back with fair Water, the handlever D, substantially as and for .the

rinsing is performs@ in -the same man-ner, not purposes herein set forth;

requiring more than wo minutes operation. WILLIAM PRICE.

- Having fully descri'lgea "uywinvention, what vWitnesses:

I claim as new, and desire toseoure by Let- J. B. WVOODRUFF, tersl Patent, is

D. H. CROSS. 

